University of Tennessee Athletics
Bowl Prep in Full Swing as Vols Prepare for Explosive Purdue Attack
December 17, 2021 | Football
Defensive coordinator Tim Banks and select defensive players met with the media following practice to talk about the Vols' upcoming matchup with Purdue later this month in Nashville.
Banks was asked about the team's motivation and excitement to partake in this year's Music City Bowl and said he's seen the same type of energy and focus that's been present all year long.
"It's been the same all year. These guys love to play the game," Banks said. "We obviously don't have tremendous depth, so these guys understand that any opportunity we get to step on the field is a blessing.
"A lot of guys say it, but these guys live by it. They're working their tails of right now, trying to prepare. I know they're excited to be here. We're looking forward to taking on a good Purdue team."
Banks also talked about the challenge of taking on a very explosive and skilled Boilermakers' offense.
"Coach (Jeff) Brohm has done a great job everywhere he's been as it relates to offense," Banks said. "We understand that we're going to have to be at our best to be able to defend a team such as Purdue. They've got good skill. It always starts with quarterback play and their quarterback seems to be playing pretty good at this point."
Jackson Excited to Finish UT Career in Hometown
Super senior defensive back Theo Jackson talked about being excited for the opportunity to finish his collegiate career back where it all started for him.
Jackson has had a fantastic final season for the Big Orange and will get to cap it off in his hometown of Nashville in front of a large contingent of friends and family.
"It's going to mean a lot to me, knowing that I did everything that I could do all five years. Just finishing off my career where I started playing football at, I think looking back on it, it's going to mean more to me then than it is now," Jackson said. "It means a lot to me now, but when I'm not playing, I can just sit down and think about (that) it's going to mean a whole lot more to me."
Page III Announces Plans to Return Next Season
Solon Page III announced his intention to utilize his extra year of eligibility and return to Tennessee next season, bolstering the Vols' linebacker room.
"I'm definitely coming back. It's exciting to come back and make sure that we get back to work," Page said during Friday's media session. "The main reason I'm coming back is that I'm still trying to get better. I feel like I didn't have the best season that I could've possibly had. I talked to coach, and he thinks that there's a lot of improvements that I can still make, and I think so as well. I think that he can help me do that."
Page carved out an extensive role in UT's linebacker rotation this season, setting career highs in every major statistical category. The Atlanta native finished the regular season with 38 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, three passes defended and a pick six.
Bowl Game & 2022 Season Ticket Info
Tennessee will conclude its 2021 campaign with a trip to Nashville for the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 at Nissan Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. ET and tickets can be purchased by visiting the Music City Bowl's website or by clicking HERE.
Existing season ticket holders can renew their tickets for the 2022 season now by visiting AllVols.com. Fans wishing to purchase new season tickets for the 2022 season can submit a request by clicking HERE.
Tim Banks Full Transcript
On if staff did self-scouting on themselves during the past few weeks…"We typically try to self-scout every week and try to get a feel for what we did well, what we did wrong, things of that nature. We've obviously been dialed in to recruiting, trying to finish up this class, and anticipating a second signing day. It's really status quo in terms of our preparation and how we go about our prep. We're definitely deep diving into Purdue right now at this point."
On Purdue's offense…
"They do a nice job. Coach (Jeff) Brohm has done a great job everywhere he's been as it relates to offense. We understand that we're going to have to be at our best to be able to defend a team such as Purdue. They've got good skill. David Bell is obviously one of the best ones in the country, but they've got plenty of guys that are up. It always starts with quarterback play, and their quarterback seems to be playing pretty good at this point."
On conversations with Coach Heupel about defensive needs and if he gets any say in transfer portal signees…
"I haven't reached that type where I just go grab guys. Coach Heupel, it starts and ends with him in terms of managing this roster. We obviously talk about what our needs are, and what areas we feel like we need to upgrade, improve, and create depth. It's a very fluid situation. We're talking about it daily. Obviously at some point we'll be able to address some things that we feel like we need to address."
On what the team is bringing in with addition of three defensive back signees…
"I'm excited, just about their overall length, athleticism, speed. I had a chance to see all of those guys up close and personal, particularly Jourdan (Thomas). We had him in camp, and we liked what we saw. He's a tremendous leader, culture driver. With Dee (Williams), he's obviously a little bit of an older kid. He has tremendous ball skills. Even Christian (Harrison), the style in which he plays with, he's been coached extremely well. He comes from an area that plays really good football. We think all three of those guys have tremendous upside, and we can't wait to get our hands on them.
On what Trinity Bell and Kaemen Marley bring to the defense…
"It's early. With Trinity (Bell), he has tremendous size. He runs well, tremendous basketball player. We'll find out as we continue to grow, but we like what he's done in terms of his attitude and him wanting to be better. Making a move from wide receiver to defense is sometimes a little bit of a challenge, but we think Kaemen (Marley) has a chance to see what he can do at linebacker or even safety. We're still trying to work him through that."
On the teams' commitment to playing in the bowl game…
"It's been the same all year. These guys love to play the game. We obviously don't have tremendous depth, so these guys understand that any opportunity we get to step on the field is a blessing. A lot of guys say it, but these guys live by it. They're working their tails of right now, trying to prepare. I know they're excited to be here. We're looking forward to taking on a good Purdue team."
On who will replace Alontae Taylor at cornerback for the bowl…
"It's fluid at this point. We have a few guys that are battling for those type of reps. You have to probably ask me right before the game and I'll tell you. That's where we are at this point."
On how Jeremy Banks and Aaron Beasley have played…
"I thought they got better as the year went on. Neither one of those guys have played a tremendous amount of football coming into this season, but I thought the way they worked, the way they prepared, you saw it week in and week out with those guys getting better. I think they'll be the first ones to tell you that they still have some ways to go, but I'm really excited about them and excited about watching them play in this bowl game. I'm excited about the future and what it holds for both of those guys."
On comparing how his defense will be this year to next year…
"You like to think you'll take another jump. I tell guys all the time, particularly in this day and age of college football, every year is a different year. We don't take anything for granted. There are guys coming, guys leaving, so we'll break it down to the fine bones of it and then we'll build it up again to be a new unit with different skill sets. We'll try to shape the system according to their skill sets. The guys that are there and are able to continue to contribute, you would like to think they will be better for the season that you just played, but we also understand there will be some new guys in it. We'll make the adjustment as coaches and hopefully put them in the best situation to be at their best."
On what he has seen from Jordan Phillips and if these early reps are helpful for him…
"Every rep is extremely valuable. He's working. We knew he was a worker, and he has not disappointed. He's working his tail off right now, trying to learn our verbiage and learn how we do things around here. He's going to be great. He's going to be a great kid first and foremost, and I think he has a tremendous upside. Will it benefit him? Absolutely. Every rep is an investment in his future. I don't know how many reps he'll get in terms of practice, but whatever he gets will be better for him going into spring."
Player Quotes
Solon Page III - LB - R-Senior
On the performance of the linebacker group this year…
"There's definitely a lot of things that we need to work on. We need to get better going week-in and week-out, footwork in the box, reading our keys. It's different little things like that. I feel like as a core group we did pretty good this year."
On if returning to Tennessee next season…
"I'm definitely coming back. It's exciting to come back and make sure that we get back to work."
On main reason for coming back…
"The main reason I'm coming back is that I'm still trying to get better. I feel like I didn't have the best season that I could've possibly had. I talked to coach, and he thinks that there's a lot of improvements that I can still make and I think so as well. I think that he can help me do that."
Omari Thomas - DL - Sophomore
On how he's grown over the season…
"I think just staying locked in, regardless of the situation. You know, regardless of games, regardless of playing time, how many snaps, or anything like that. Just staying locked in on small things throughout the season and just being behind those seniors, being behind all the people who are playing. Learning and just keep getting coached up by Coach G (Rodney Garner) and then capitalize on the opportunity when it comes. I think I just stayed the course, locked in, always being a good teammate, and then when the time comes (I) have to capitalize on it, just keep improving as a player."
On how it's been hosting recruits…
"Oh, it's been really good. When we host recruits, we tell them the truth, we tell them what's up, how we get down here, the culture here, and we tell them 'You come in you're going to have to work for everything.' It doesn't matter who you were in high school or anything like that, you come in you're going to have to work for it. We keep it real with them, we tell them that we have a lot of fun here. It's a true family experience here, it's a true brotherhood. You're going to get coached up hard but they're going to love you even harder. So, we just keep it real with the recruits that come in."
On the team's culture…
"The culture of this football program, obviously: brotherhood. It's a true brotherhood and it's everybody's loving on everyone. Everyone is excited for the team's accomplishments, everybody's excited for everyone's individual accomplishments, and it's just a true brotherhood. Everybody just cares for one another and (I'm) happy that we're going to a bowl game, and to be able to play in state."
Theo Jackson - DB - Senior
On who he can pass the torch to next season…
"It's not really passing the torch to the person behind me playing position, it's just the leadership role. Especially the backend. Guys like Jaylen McCollough, Trevon Flowers, those two come to mind when I think of leaders stepping up."
On his last game of college being played in his hometown…
"It's going to mean a lot to me, knowing that I did everything that I could do all five years. Just finishing off my career where I started playing football at. I think looking back on it, it's going to mean more to me then than it is now. It means a lot to me now, but when I'm not playing I can just sit down and think about it's going to mean a whole lot more to me."
